Floribunda rose plant named ‘WEKcharlie’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Floribunda rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of red velvet coloration.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridaplant.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘WEKcharlie’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Floribunda Rose.It has as its seed parent the variety known as ‘WEKsanpoly’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 13,513) and as its pollen parent the variety known as‘ADHarman’ (not patented).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventorare the following combinations of characteristics: its hairy peduncleand flower receptacle, its red suffusion on the inner surface of thesepal that appears as the flower ages, its very glossy foliage and itsred velvet flower coloration that lasts throughout the life of theflower. The plant has a moderately upright compact and rounded growinghabit, suitable for outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty and Pomona, Calif., shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKcharlie’ may beasexually propagated by cuttings, budding and grafting. The budding andgrafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv.‘Dr. Huey’ (not patented).

Comparison with Parents

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, ‘WEKsanpoly’ bythe following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKcharlie’ bearslarge sized flowers (about 8.5 to about 12.3 cm. in diameter),‘WEKsanpoly’ bears significantly smaller flowers (about 6.5 to about 9.0cm. in diameter). The new variety has a moderately upright compact androunded growing habit (about 60 to about 70 cm. spread at the widestpoint), whereas the seed parent has a significantly more spreadingrounded bushy to somewhat upright growing habit (about 72 to about 88cm. spread at the widest point).

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, ‘ADHarman’by the following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKcharlie’bears double flowers (about 20 to 26 petals) of red velvet coloration,‘ADHarman’ bears flowers of dusky red coloration with significantlyheavier petalage (about 24 to 34 petals). The new variety bears flowerswith a slight tea fragrance, whereas the pollen parent bears flowerswith a strong fruity and rich rose fragrance.

Comparison with the Closest Commercially Available Cultivar

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commerciallyavailable cultivar, ‘POUlman’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,264) by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKcharlie’ bearslarge sized (about 8.5 to about 12.3 cm. in diameter) double flowers(about 20 to 26 petals), the closest commercially available cultivarbears significantly smaller flowers (about 8.0 to about 10.0 cm. indiameter) with significantly heavier petalage (about 30 to 35 petals).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(1966) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Pomona, Calif. in the month of November.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

Flower

The new variety usually bears its flowers singly, sometimes in clustersof two to three per stem. Flowers may be borne in regular roundedclusters on strong short to medium length stems (about 21 to about 54cm.). Outdoors, the plant blooms abundantly and nearly continuouslyduring the growing season. The flowers have a slight tea fragrance.

Bud

The peduncle is about 3.6 to about 7.7 cm. in length, of somewhat heavycaliper (about 0.3 to about 0.4 cm. in diameter), and usually erect. Itis moderately rough, with some stipitate glands and hairs. Pedunclecolor is between 146C and 146B often moderately suffused, especially onthe side exposed to the sun, with between 183A and 187B.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 1.5 to about 1.8 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 1.5 to about 2.2 cm. in length, andpointed to somewhat ovoid in shape. The surface of the bud bears between6 to 8 foliaceous appendages and few hairs, usually with moderatelystout much cut foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of the budabout ½ or more of its length. Bud color is between 137B and 146B oftenmoderately suffused, especially on the side exposed to the sun, withbetween 187B and 187A.

The sepals are about 2.6 to about 3.7 cm. in length and about 0.6 toabout 1.2 cm. in width at the widest point. The outer surface color ofthe sepal is between 137B and 146B often moderately suffused, especiallyon the side exposed to the sun, with between 187B and 187A. The innersurface color of the sepal is near 146C broadly bordered by near 137A.After the sepals open, the inner surface color is often heavilysuffused, especially on the area exposed to the sun, with between 187Aand 187B. The inner surface of the sepal is covered with fine woolytomentum; sepal margins are lined with some hairs and sometimes very fewstipitate glands.

The receptacle of the flower is of medium length (about 0.5 to about 0.7cm.) and somewhat heavy in caliper (about 0.7 to about 0.9 cm. indiameter). The receptacle is urn-shaped in form. Its surface is verysmooth with few hairs and with thick fleshy walls. The receptacle coloris between 144A and 146B.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.8 toabout 2.4 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 2.5 to about 3.1cm. in length, and ovoid in form. The color of the under surfaces of thenewly opened petals is between 59A and 60A. At the point where the petalattaches, there is a somewhat small zone of between 1C and 154C. Thecolor of the upper surfaces of the newly opened petals is between 187Aand 187B. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a somewhatsmall zone of between 3B and 2B.

Bloom

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 8.5 to about 12.3 cm. indiameter. Petalage is double with about 20 to 26 petals and about 0 to 3petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloom form ismoderately high centered to somewhat cupped, and the petals are tightlyspiraled to cupped with petal edges moderately reflexed outward. Whenfully open, the bloom form is more cupped, and the petals are looselycupped to moderately undulated with petal edges moderately reflexedoutward to somewhat rolled.

Petals

The substance of the petals is moderately heavy and of somewhat thin tomedium thickness, with upper surfaces moderately satiny to somewhatvelvety and under surfaces slightly shiny to matte. The petals are about4.4 to about 5.9 cm. in length and about 3.7 to about 6.3 cm. in widthat the widest point. Petal margins are entire.

The outer petals are moderately obovate to somewhat rounded in shapewith rounded apices.

The inner petals are obovate to somewhat oblanceolate in shape withrounded apices.

Petaloids are about 1.9 to about 3.5 cm. in length and about 1.2 toabout 2.7 cm. in width at the widest point. Petaloids are irregularlyshaped moderately obovate to somewhat oblanceolate with rounded apices.

Newly Opened Flower

The under surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals isbetween 58B and 53C. At the point where the petal attaches, there is asomewhat large zone of between 4B and 5C. The upper surface color of theouter, intermediate and inner petals is between 53B and 53C sometimessuffused, especially on the outermost petal with between 187A and 187B.At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zoneof between 12A and 9A.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is between 53B and 53Csometimes suffused, especially on the outermost petal with between 187Aand 187B.

Three-Day-Old Flower

The under surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals isbetween 61B and 60B. At the point where the petal attaches, there is asomewhat large zone of between 2D and 4D. The upper surface color of theouter, intermediate and inner petals is between 53B and 53C oftensuffused, especially on the outermost petal with between 187A and 187B.At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zoneof between 3C and 4B.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between 53B and 53Coften suffused, especially on the outermost petal with between 187A and187B.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.

In November in Pomona, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about four to five days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout four to five days.

Male Reproductive Organs

Stamens are many in number (average about 145) and are arrangedregularly about the pistils; a few are mixed with petaloids. Thefilaments are of somewhat long length (about 0.7 to about 1.4 cm.) mostwith anthers. Filaments are between 13A and 14B in color often heavilysuffused with between 53B and 53C. The anthers are somewhat large forthe class and all open approximately at the same time. Anther color whenimmature is near 20B on the external part and near 19C on the internalpart. Anther color at maturity is near 163A on the external part andnear 200A on the internal part. Pollen is abundant and between 20B and18A in color.

Female Reproductive Organs

Pistils vary in number (average about 120). The styles are moderatelyeven, somewhat short to average in length (about 0.4 to about 0.7 cm.),heavy in caliper and moderately tightly bunched. Stigma color is near20B. Style color is between 154C and 150C usually heavily suffused withbetween 53A and 53B. Ovaries are usually all enclosed in the calyx.

Hips are of average length (about 1.2 to about 1.5 cm.), rounded in formwith a flat top, and between 25A and 28B in color when ripe. The hipsurface is very smooth with thick fleshy walls. The sepals aremoderately permanent and usually straight in shape.

The seeds are irregularly rounded, smooth in texture, approximately 4 toabout 9 per hip, about 0.3 to about 0.5 cm. in diameter at the widestpoint and between 161C and 162C in color.

Foliage

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to five leaflets andare borne abundantly. The five-leaflet leaves are about 7.6 to about13.8 cm. in length and about 6.2 to about 11.3 cm. in width at thewidest point, moderately leathery to somewhat crisp in texture, and veryglossy in finish on the upper side and matte in finish on the underside. The terminal leaflets are about 3.1 to about 7.3 cm. in length andabout 1.8 to about 4.7 cm. in width at the widest point, shaped ovatewith acute apices and rounded bases. Their margins are usually simplyserrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 139A and 146A. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 147B and 146B. Theupper surface color of the young leaf is between 137A and 146A, oftenheavily suffused with between 187B and 187A. The under surface color ofthe young leaf is between 147B and 146A, often heavily suffused withbetween 187B and 187A.

The rachis is of somewhat light caliper and moderately rough. The upperside is deeply grooved with few hairs and stipitate glands on the edgesof the grooves. The under side of the rachis is moderately rough withfew hairs, few stipitate glands and small prickles. The rachis color isnear 146D on the under side and near 137C on the upper side, oftenheavily suffused on the young leaf with between 187B and 187A.

The stipules are about 1.0 to about 1.4 cm. in length and somewhatnarrow to medium in width (about 0.5 to about 0.8 cm.) with moderatelylong straight points that usually turn out at an angle of more than 45degrees and sometimes recurve toward the stem. The under and uppersurface color of the stipule is between 146B and 137C, often heavilysuffused on the young leaf with between 187B and 187A.

The petiole is of somewhat light caliper and moderately rough. The upperside is deeply grooved with few hairs and stipitate glands on the edgesof the grooves. The under side of the petiole is moderately rough withfew hairs, few stipitate glands and small prickles. The petiole is about0.5 to about 1.9 cm. in length and about 0.1 to about 0.15 cm in widthat the widest point. The petiole color is near 146D on the under sideand near 137C on the upper side, often heavily suffused on the youngleaf with between 187B and 187A.

The plant displays an average degree of resistance to powdery mildew andrust as compared to other commercial varieties grown under comparableconditions in Pomona, Calif. The plant's winter hardiness anddrought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

Growth

The plant has a moderately upright compact and rounded medium heightgrowing habit (about 85 to about 100 cm. in height and about 60 to about70 cm. spread at the widest point), with full branching. It displaysmoderately vigorous growth and the canes are of somewhat heavy caliperfor the class (about 1.5 to about 2.0 cm. in width at the widest point).

The color of the major stems is between 147B and 152A. They bear somelarge prickles that are about 0.5 to about 0.8 cm. in length. The largeprickles are angled moderately downward with a long narrow oval base;prickle color is near 165B overlaid with 201B. The major stem bears fewsmall prickles of similar shape and coloration.

The color of the branches is between 146A and 146B. They bear some largeprickles which are of similar size and shape to the large prickles onthe major stems; prickle color is between 161A and 162B sometimeslightly suffused with near 187D. The branches bear some small pricklesof similar shape and coloration.

The color of the new shoots is between 146B and 146A sometimes lightlysuffused with between 183B and 187B. They bear some large prickles whichare of similar size and shape to the large prickles on the major stems;prickle color is between 153A and 152C often moderately suffused withbetween 187B and 183B. The shoots bear some small prickles of similarshape and coloration.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant of the variety substantially as described and illustrated herein. 